The argument over torque screwdrivers on breakers is getting old

I keep seeing guys at supply houses in Omaha grabbing impact drivers for panel work, but I've had too many terminal screws snap on me to trust them anymore. My old mentor swore by hand torque drivers for terminals, saying impacts are fine as long as you feather the trigger. Who here actually checks torque specs on breakers and neutral bars, or is it all just by feel once you've done it long enough?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_patel17d ago

Feather the trigger" is exactly what my old boss used to say too, but I tried that once on a Square D QO breaker and still cracked the terminal right down the middle. Now I just use a Wera torque screwdriver I got off Amazon and set it to 20 inch-pounds for everything. It takes maybe an extra 30 seconds per breaker, but I sleep better knowing I'm not the guy who starts a fire from a loose connection. Plus, it keeps the inspectors off my back since they're getting picky about those torque stickers on the panel cover.

caleb_stone17d ago

I found the same thing with QO terminals until I switched to a torque driver.

ellis.hayden16d ago

Different brands act totally different under a screw gun for sure. I had the same problem with Square D until I switched to a standard handheld screwdriver and just use my wrist for the final snug. Never had a terminal crack since I stopped letting the tool do all the thinking.

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